I expected somewhat better. While several of the stories were innovative and interesting, some of them were a bit too forcibly political, and those di...moreI expected somewhat better. While several of the stories were innovative and interesting, some of them were a bit too forcibly political, and those didn't age well. Chris Bunch's story really belonged in the Alternate Kennedys volume, since the portrayal of both John and Bobby was very strange. Still, you don't often see a funny Hannibal-crossing-the-Alps story, so that was worth finding, and some of the other stories were quite interesting. (less)
This third volume completes the major plot threads of the first two, but leaves room for future books in the same setting. I would love to see such fu...moreThis third volume completes the major plot threads of the first two, but leaves room for future books in the same setting. I would love to see such future books, because I have really become fascinated by the world-building and setup of this series. Set in an alternate version of America during the 19th century, the series deals with a version of the westward expansion that is impeded by the existence of various unusual obstacles, up to and including dragons. There seems to be no indication of a Native American population. Either they are all west of the Rockies, or got eaten by the Dragons right after first crossing the Bering Strait, because other animals extinct in our world proliferate, including wooly rhinos, mammoths and other animals that in our world were hunted out of existence or otherwise went extinct. I this third volume of the series, the main character has been asked to go along on a journey of exploration, to learn some of the things that the failed Lewis and Clark expedition had hoped to find, and also to learn the source of the sudden upsurge of magical creatures that threatens the frontier settlements. Now that she's older, there's even an element of romance running through the story, although that is not the dominant theme of the story. The result is a fantasy that is readable by teens and adults. The only caveat is that readers really do need to read the whole series. This volume is not a good stand-alone. On the other hand, the books are very good, and not exceptionally long.(less)
I find this to be an even better series than Card's Alvin Maker stories. While I do not yet understand some of the historical choices that the author...moreI find this to be an even better series than Card's Alvin Maker stories. While I do not yet understand some of the historical choices that the author made, they are still intriguing. The idea of different styles of magic in different regions of the world rings true from folkloric traditions, and the idea that a magical ecosystem is much harder to explore and conquer than a non-magical one is handled very well. After two books, I am still intrigued by the Great Barrier itself. I really hope that the author has something planned to explain that. This second book carries the story forward, as Eff and Lan reach college age and make their life choices. The real heart of the story comes from their struggles with their own forms of magic, and their explorations of the "wild west" with professors and magicians. Like most second volumes of longer series, this one isn't about resolutions and endings, but it has a lot of cool subplots and new ideas, as well as hints that the area of the far west is a really scary place. I look forward to reading the third volume as soon as I can get my hands on it.(less)
This very much qualifies as alternate history and retro science fiction, since it's about several technologies and devices that never were, in our rea...moreThis very much qualifies as alternate history and retro science fiction, since it's about several technologies and devices that never were, in our reality. Oddly, I found the style of the book to be somewhat frustrating, since the creators were so caught up in the whole "robot Forrest Gump" concept that they glossed over too many things. Both the robot and some of the innovations necessary to create him have consequences that are not addressed in the story, because those changes are not the focus of the tale. So, while the story of a 19th-century robot wandering through American history is really cool, it felt like it could have been even better, with a bit more thoughtful treatment.(less)
The concepts contained in this book are what make it above-average. It is not brilliantly written, but it is outstandingly thought-provoking. The basic...moreThe concepts contained in this book are what make it above-average. It is not brilliantly written, but it is outstandingly thought-provoking. The basic premise is that the United States quit partway through a World War that continued on for many years after, turning into a devastating stalemate that blanketed most of the rest of the world. As a result, the dwindling armies of the European powers fought over ever-diminishing scraps, as their governments fell and their populations plummeted. The central character, remembered to future historians as The Lieutenant, a British officer, eventually found himself in charge of a brigade of surviving soldiers. His actions at that point changed the downward spiral of history...or did they? The very existence of future historians suggests so, but the story is in no way a happy fable, and the isolationist United States is far from being the land of good guys in this grim tale. The writing was good for 1940s pulp, but may seem a bit forced to modern readers, and that's okay. This book was a rough attempt at the kind of thing George Orwell wrote, and is a credible attempt that is a quick read.(less)
This book almost deserved a fourth star, but lost it by allowing the villains and the science to spin out of control. The danger in a story like this...moreThis book almost deserved a fourth star, but lost it by allowing the villains and the science to spin out of control. The danger in a story like this is that the gimmicks can overwhelm the other plot points, and in this case it felt like that had happened. The story takes place in a world somewhat more advanced than our own, but that is inconsistent. Electronics and biology seem like they're a couple of generations ahead, but nothing else is, in most of the story. The main character has been working on fuel cell technology in a home lab, in 1953. Another character displays large, flat screen television, again in 1953. Watson and Crick have not only discovered DNA, but have figured out how to analyze it and compare genomes of human samples. Russian blood experiments have led to...well, um...that's one of the ones that didn't quite make sense to me, so we'll leave that for you to decipher. I think the author was trying to describe the kind of blood doping that crooked athletes use, to increase the oxygen load in the blood...otherwise, the massive transfusions didn't make sense, in the context. The detective noir part was really cool, and felt like it was well planned and interesting. The villains were just crazy enough that a James Bond would have loved to fight them to the bitter end. The problem had to do with the plotting of what the villains were trying to do, and with the science being used by both the hero and the villain. If science is at the core of a story, the author should do enough homework to make it plausible. In this case, a form of radar is at the core of the story, but the author doesn't seem to know how radar actually works. In this case, he kind of forgot that the signal has to get back to a receiver somehow...no, really, it does, and his doesn't. Same kind of thing later in the story, as a microwave signal is going to be bounced off the moon, but come back both very strong AND diffused enough to be spread out over the hemisphere...from an antenna small enough that the authorities hadn't noticed it being built, during the Cold War. Um, right... The goals of the villains seemed to keep changing, and unfortunately, the second-to-the-last version is the one that made the most sense...then it changed again to mad villain gibberish. Sigh. Other than the flawed mcguffins, the story was a lot of fun, tying together the Cold War, the death of Stalin, the rush toward super-science, and even ninjas.(less)
**spoiler alert** I was a little disappointed at the lack of care in crafting the world and its components. This left too many plot holes for my taste...more**spoiler alert** I was a little disappointed at the lack of care in crafting the world and its components. This left too many plot holes for my taste. After all the great reviews for Boneshaker, I had expected better of this spinoff novel. I started here because it seemed like a short entry point, to try Priest's work. I found the armored dirigibles and the 25-year war very hard to believe, based purely on the world as shown in this book. As described, these war dirigibles simply couldn't fly, and it didn't seem like the author thought that mattered. If the Civil War really did drag on for an extra 20 years or so...where was the South getting manpower, raw materials, food or any of the other necessities? They couldn't even manage to keep one observation balloon operational at their peak, so how were they building higher-tech dirigibles? The fabric alone is a major obstacle. If these things are somehow changed in the alternate world of these stories, a hint would be nice, even if the main explanation is in another book. Key plot points hinge on people being colossally stupid for varying periods of time, like the guy who re-stole The Free Crow, an airship, to carry a heavy piece of cargo. I mean, what part of "chip off the cement and drop the weight, so you can actually fly" was so difficult a concept? And why was the main air pirate so obsessed with that ship, when given the opportunity to steal and keep a much better one? The good part of the book was the people. I found the characters to be interesting, especially the portrayal of Boyd. I had trouble liking any of the central characters, though, when the "nice" one is a spy and killer. This book is really a two-and-a-half, but not bad enough to round down to two stars.(less)
I have mixed feelings about this graphic novel. I really wanted to like it, after reading some very favorable reviews, but the actual book has several...moreI have mixed feelings about this graphic novel. I really wanted to like it, after reading some very favorable reviews, but the actual book has several story flaws. One is that there is an ongoing theme of: Person A has committed a terrible crime, so we'll punish Person B. Both villains and heroes do this, repeatedly. Another is the villification of William Franklin, Benjamin's son. While it is certainly possible to dislike him for being a Tory, this story portrays him as vicious, evil and sadistic, which seems a bit much. The changing morality of slavery in the Pennsylvania colony is simplified to the point of being painful, and the villains are shown as southern-style plantation owners, even though slavery in Pennsylvania was of a very different nature, with slaves used mainly in urban settings. So, if you view it as an alternate history, one in which William Franklin was an evil mad scientist, with a Hessian follower who would have been a good assistant for any James Bond villain, and in which the climate was altered enough that you could grow tobacco in Pennsylvania with slave labor, then...well, it's pretty good, but still not great. The action sequences are abrupt, and some of them are more gruesome than I would have hoped, for the intended audience.(less)
A few weak stories kept this from getting a fourth star. Historian and alternate history writer William Forstchen wrote one of the afterwords, and the...moreA few weak stories kept this from getting a fourth star. Historian and alternate history writer William Forstchen wrote one of the afterwords, and the editor should have read it before selecting the stories, as it points out a flaw that occurred in a few of the stories. In good alternate history, the end result has to be POSSIBLE, based on the historical setting and the changes postulated. You can't just say "John Kennedy wasn't assassinated, so the first Mars landing was in 1970." The leap just doesn't work. Similarly, Forstchen points out that a change in the battle of Gettysburg would not have automatically led to an immediate Confederate military victory in the Civil War. Too many authors make that awkward leap of historical faith, including some in this anthology. In the good stories, though, there is enough solid writing and historical alternatives that the anthology is worth reading, if you are interested in either the Civil War or in alternate history writing. One deals with Lincoln's mental state, which is well documented. Others deal with historical what-ifs involving real situations surrounding the battle. Overall, quite enjoyable, but it could have been better.(less)
It had some flaws, but I enjoyed the book quite a bit. The juxtaposition of the fairly serious fantasy/horror with the really weird zombie dark humor...moreIt had some flaws, but I enjoyed the book quite a bit. The juxtaposition of the fairly serious fantasy/horror with the really weird zombie dark humor put me off at first, but I grew to enjoy it more as I continued to read the story. Anyone who has heard the Goth rock singer Voltaire's song "Zombie Prostitute" will get an extra level of enjoyment out of some of the scenes. The disclaimer at the end of the book, which admitted to minor anachronisms with the "I meant to do that" style of historicity would have been better placed at the start of the book, as a few of them were slightly distracting when first mentioned. Overall, though, just hang on for the ride and ignore the details which feel like they shouldn't work. Most of them do, by the end of the story.(less)
This had been on my "get around to reading it" shelf for a while, and when I finally did, I was a little disappointed. Not alternate history in the tr...moreThis had been on my "get around to reading it" shelf for a while, and when I finally did, I was a little disappointed. Not alternate history in the traditional sense, instead it is a story of alternate explanations for what really happened. The down side is that much of the book is about Masonic ceremonies and the missing treasure of the Jacobites...fascinating, but lacking in drama because we already know how the story comes out in the end. The most dramatic moments of the American revolution are used as a mere backdrop, which further distanced me from the story. I have always liked her purely fictional works, and I think the historical constraints interfered too much with her normal writing style. It's good, but could have been better.(less)
While the author let some interesting cultural biases slip in, the speculations about what a Neanderthal-based civilization might have been like are f...moreWhile the author let some interesting cultural biases slip in, the speculations about what a Neanderthal-based civilization might have been like are fascinating. For instance, if your civilization has no strong privacy taboos, how would that be reflected in the culture and the law? Oddly, the place I had to suspend disbelief was socio-economic, as I didn't think the Neanderthal culture's structure worked well...it amounts to a high-tech barter system with no agricultural underpinning, and makes the assumption that since Neanderthal brains were larger, they must therefore have been smarter, and that therefore they would have gotten around the problem of feeding the non-hunter-gatherers in a hunter-gatherer society, and advanced from that. To be honest, that was a bigger leap than the idea that a quantum computer could open gateways into other worlds...In our world, agriculture was pretty much the first technology in each technological culture. Sawyer's alternate model just didn't convince me. Still, the story was really good, and the characters excellent.(less)
This series isn't quite like his others, in that it is farther from any specific historical model than most, but it is still historically based, sort...moreThis series isn't quite like his others, in that it is farther from any specific historical model than most, but it is still historically based, sort of. It takes place as an ice age is ending, and the change has reconnected lands that have been separated for many years by glaciers. Unfortunately, one side contained a violent, vicious culture...and then, there are the bad guys, on the other side.
Seriously, one difficulty that some readers will have is that there are only comparative good guys in this story. The main character is sympathetic, but that's about it.
The story, in terms of both adventure and military fiction, is good and very interesting. The magic is very strange, and I'm still trying to figure out some of the important concepts introduced in this volume, but it's still a good read.(less)
Well written, but with flaws. Because the author chose such a sweeping change in history, the ripples get complicated very quickly, and by the end, ma...moreWell written, but with flaws. Because the author chose such a sweeping change in history, the ripples get complicated very quickly, and by the end, many subplots which had little or nothing to do with the alternate history ended up affecting the plot. That said, the story kept my interest, and the basic premise was plausible, if you accept the premise that the British politicians were that set on their goals.(less)
Unlike some authors who use alternate history as a springboard to tell political or social stories, this really IS just an alternate history story, th...moreUnlike some authors who use alternate history as a springboard to tell political or social stories, this really IS just an alternate history story, the tale of what might have happened in the great battle at Gettysburg. In some ways, that weakens the book's impact, because Tsouras makes no real attempt to examine what have happened as a result of the altered battle, but it's still an interesting story. As something of a Civil War buff, I found his chosen points of change to be plausible and reasonable...things that really could have gone differently based on simple human decisions, rather than any major deus ex machina. The cover blurb is slightly misleading about what the points of change really are, but I found this version of day 2 of the battle of Gettysburg to be especially interesting, and I think he had an excellent handle on the personalities involved.(less)
The Crosstime series is intended for a young adult audience, generally featuring teens traveling between worlds. This fourth volume continues the stor...moreThe Crosstime series is intended for a young adult audience, generally featuring teens traveling between worlds. This fourth volume continues the story with yet another example of things going wrong. In this case, Justin is along for the ride when a war breaks out, in a world in which the United States...aren't united. The Constitution was never ratified, the Articles of Confederation were eventually seen as a toothless farce, and the country split apart. Historically, this is perhaps the most forced premise of the series, as it fails to explain many unlikely things, including how California became a separate, powerful republic without any united push from the east. The action part of the story is the heart of the matter, and that is well written, as Justin is forced to confront several moral and social issues while trying to get home.(less)
While this book is not Turtledove's absolute best, Opening Atlantis is a good, solid novel based in an alternate world in which there is a small conti...moreWhile this book is not Turtledove's absolute best, Opening Atlantis is a good, solid novel based in an alternate world in which there is a small continent in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean...one made up of the land that would be the Eastern Seaboard of North America in our world, from New England to Florida. It position leads to an earlier discovery date, allowing the author to explore the concept of European colonization at the time of the War of the Roses. He then carries the story forward, up until roughly the 1760s, telling three main stories: one of colonization, one of the pirate age, and one of the western colonies getting caught up in the European wars. Of the three, the pirate tale and the later war story are both riveting, and use a device tying the characters to the same families who first colonized the "new world". He is also able to examine the economics and morality of slavery, with brief nods to the problems of interactions of ecologies and cultures.(less)
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